Every small business owner wants to grow their businesses, but it isn't always easy to identify the right opportunity. Before a large corporation makes any sort of decision, they spend numerous hours and thousands of dollars on market research. Don't let that scare you off though, as having a small budget doesn't mean you have to skip the research phase altogether.

The well-written survey could be viewed as a window, a window into the minds of your present customers. It could also be seen as a crystal ball, one that shows you the customers you’ll have in the future. If your survey is incentivized, you could also see it as bait, an effective lure to attract customers that might otherwise not have engaged your company or products. Ultimately, your survey is defined by the goals you set for it.

Every small business owner needs to start somewhere when it comes to Social Media, but where to begin? Facebook? Twitter? LinkedIn? Do you create accounts all over the place, or focus on one network at a time? Do you read a bunch of books and attend classes, or just dive in and see what happens? What are some potential pitfalls to avoid?